INGREDIENTS

Each pill contains the equiv. to dry:

Wolfporia, fruit 150mg

Nutgrass, tuber 112.5mg

Bitter Orange, peel 75mg

Licorice, root 37.5mg

 

Store below 30°C

Contains 200 x 200mg pills.

AUSTL 402295

Manufactured In Australia.

 

Indications: coughing, blowing or vomiting lots of phlegm. COPD.

Actions: dries the phlegm, stops phlegm production, makes the lungs happy.

Dosage: 12 pills 2 - 3 times per day, as symptoms return.

Children: 6 months an over 1 pill per year of age up to the age of 10 as directed above.

Must use with other formulas such as Wet Cough, Flu, Indigestion.

Over use don’t under use. Treat sooner rather than later.

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Er Chen Tang – "Phlegm Buster"

A classical Chinese herbal formula traditionally used to dry excess mucus, clear phlegm and restore healthy function to the lungs and digestive system.

 

What is Er Chen Tang?

Phlegm is one of the body's natural defence mechanisms.

It traps dust, bacteria, viruses and other unwanted particles before they can cause harm.

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But when too much mucus is produced...

...or it becomes thick and difficult to clear...

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it can contribute to:

• persistent coughing

• chest congestion

• blocked sinuses

• nausea

• dizziness

• digestive discomfort

 

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) recognised that excessive phlegm can affect far more than the lungs. It may also interfere with digestion, circulation and even mental clarity.

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Er Chen Tang (二陈汤) was developed to help the body clear excess phlegm and restore normal fluid balance.

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At Chiron Medical we call it "Phlegm Buster", because breaking up and clearing excessive mucus is its principal role.

 

A Formula with Nearly 1,000 Years of History

Er Chen Tang was first recorded in the Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang (Imperial Grace Formulary of the Tai Ping Era) during the Song Dynasty in the 12th century.

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Its name translates as "Two Aged Decoction," referring to the traditional use of aged tangerine peel (Chen Pi) and aged Pinellia (Ban Xia), ingredients believed to become more effective with proper preparation.

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Over the centuries, Er Chen Tang has become the foundation formula for treating excessive phlegm throughout Chinese medicine.

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Many famous formulas—including those used for cough, sinus congestion and dizziness—are built upon its principles.

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Why We Call It "Phlegm Buster"

E

xcess phlegm isn't always obvious.

Some people cough it up.

Others constantly clear their throat.

Some experience sinus congestion.

Others simply feel heavy, foggy or sluggish.

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Typical symptoms include:

• productive cough

• white or clear phlegm

• chest congestion

• excessive throat mucus

• frequent throat clearing

• nausea

• poor appetite

• feeling of heaviness

• dizziness associated with mucus

 

Chinese medicine considers these all to be signs that the body's fluid metabolism has become impaired.

 

What Is It Traditionally Used For?

Traditionally, Er Chen Tang is prescribed for Damp-Phlegm affecting the Lungs and Digestive System.

 

Respiratory Conditions

• productive cough

• chronic chest congestion

• excessive mucus

• bronchitis (pattern dependent)

• post-viral mucus

• smoker's cough (supportive care)

 

Digestive Disorders

• nausea

• bloating

• poor appetite

• abdominal fullness

• excessive saliva

• sluggish digestion

 

Other Traditional Uses

Because phlegm can affect many systems, the formula is also considered for:

• dizziness

• vertigo associated with phlegm

• "brain fog"

• heavy sensation in the body

 

The Herbs That Make the Formula

Er Chen Tang contains four carefully selected herbs that help restore healthy fluid balance. Together they dry excess moisture, clear stubborn phlegm and help the lungs and digestive system work together more efficiently.

 

Ban Xia (Prepared Pinellia)

 

Traditional Role

The main herb in the formula. Ban Xia breaks down thick phlegm, dries excess moisture and settles the stomach, making it particularly useful for productive coughs, nausea and a heavy, congested feeling.

 

Biomedical Actions

Research suggests it may help regulate stomach function, reduce nausea, support healthy mucus clearance and improve upper digestive function.

Only properly prepared Ban Xia should be used.

 

Chen Pi (Aged Tangerine Peel)

 

Traditional Role

Chen Pi keeps digestion moving efficiently. By improving the way food and fluids are processed, it helps prevent the build-up of the excess moisture that eventually becomes phlegm.

 

Biomedical Actions

Studies suggest it may improve gastric emptying, support digestive function, reduce bloating and promote healthy intestinal movement.

 

Fu Ling (Poria)

 

Traditional Role

Fu Ling helps the body process and remove excess fluid while supporting healthy digestion. It creates an internal environment where phlegm is less likely to accumulate.

 

Biomedical Actions

Research suggests immune-modulating, anti-inflammatory and microbiome-supporting effects, while helping regulate normal fluid balance.

 

Gan Cao (Liquorice Root)

 

Traditional Role

Gan Cao brings the formula together, supports healthy digestion and soothes irritated airways and digestive tissues.

 

Biomedical Actions

Research demonstrates anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immune-regulating effects, together with protection of the respiratory and digestive lining.

 

How the Formula Works

Chinese medicine teaches that the body constantly produces and recycles fluids. When digestion slows, those fluids can become thick and stagnant, eventually turning into the mucus and phlegm that cause congestion, coughing and a heavy, sluggish feeling.

Er Chen Tang helps restore this natural process. It improves the body's ability to process fluids, breaks down excess phlegm and supports healthy digestion so congestion is less likely to return.

Rather than simply suppressing mucus, Er Chen Tang helps the body restore a healthier fluid balance—the reason this simple four-herb formula has remained one of Chinese medicine's most trusted remedies for phlegm for nearly a thousand years.

What Does Modern Research Say?

Modern research has investigated the constituent herbs for:

 

Respiratory Disease

• chronic bronchitis

• productive cough

• airway inflammation

• excessive mucus production

 

Gastrointestinal Disorders

Studies suggest improvements in:

• gastric motility

• nausea

• functional dyspepsia

• digestive efficiency

 

Inflammation

Research demonstrates:

• regulation of inflammatory cytokines

• antioxidant activity

• protection of respiratory tissues

 

Emerging evidence suggests the formula influences both respiratory and digestive physiology, reflecting the traditional understanding that these two systems work closely together.

 

Why the Digestive System Matters

One of the central principles of Chinese medicine is:

The Spleen makes phlegm. The Lungs store it.

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In modern terms, poor digestion can contribute to altered fluid regulation, inflammation and changes in the gut microbiome that affect the entire body.

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This explains why Er Chen Tang treats both the lungs and the digestive system.

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Comparing the Chiron Medical Respiratory Formulas

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Er Chen Tang - Phlegm Buster - General excess white or clear phlegm - Dries Dampness and clears mucus throughout the body

Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang - Wet Cough – Yellow Sticky Phlegm - Chest infection with yellow phlegm - Clears Heat and inflammatory mucus from the lungs

Sang Ju Yin - New Cough - Early dry cough - Early respiratory infection

Bai He Gu Jin Tang - Dry Cough - Dry lungs with little mucus - Nourishes Lung Yin

Ding Chuan Tang - Wheeze - Wheezing and airway narrowing - Opens the airways and relieves bronchospasm

 

Understanding the Difference

Not all phlegm is the same.

Phlegm Buster (Er Chen Tang)

Best for white, clear or copious phlegm caused by Dampness.

↓

Wet Cough (Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang)

When phlegm becomes yellow, sticky and hot, indicating inflammation or infection.

↓

New Cough (Sang Ju Yin)

When there is very little mucus, and the illness is only just beginning.

↓

Dry Cough (Bai He Gu Jin Tang)

When the infection has passed but the lungs remain dry and irritated.

↓

Wheeze (Ding Chuan Tang)

When airway narrowing and breathing difficulty become the dominant problem.

 

This progression demonstrates one of the strengths of Chinese medicine—matching treatment to the quality and stage of respiratory illness rather than treating every cough the same way.

 

For Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners

 

Classical Pattern

Damp-Phlegm

 

Typical presentation:

• productive cough

• abundant white sputum

• nausea

• chest fullness

• greasy tongue coating

• slippery pulse

 

Formula Strategy

Er Chen Tang:

• Dries Dampness.

• Transforms Phlegm.

• Regulates Qi.

• Harmonises the Stomach.

• Strengthens the Spleen.

 

Common Clinical Modifications

Frequently adapted for:

• chronic bronchitis

• chronic sinusitis

• vertigo due to phlegm

• functional dyspepsia

• obesity with Dampness

• post-viral mucus

 

For Medical Doctors

 

Proposed Biomedical Actions

Current research suggests the constituent herbs influence:

• airway mucus production

• mucociliary clearance

• inflammatory cytokines

• gastric motility

• gut microbiota

• oxidative stress

• respiratory mucosal function

 

Major bioactive compounds include:

• hesperidin

• nobiletin

• glycyrrhizin

• pachymic acid

• pinellia polysaccharides

 

Collectively these compounds demonstrate mucoregulatory, anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective and immunomodulatory properties.

 

Potential Herb–Drug Considerations

Clinical monitoring is advisable in patients taking:

• expectorants or mucolytics

• bronchodilators

• inhaled corticosteroids

• antiemetic medications

• anticoagulants (general botanical precaution)

 

Persistent cough lasting more than three weeks, coughing up blood, unexplained weight loss, chest pain, high fever or significant shortness of breath requires prompt medical assessment to exclude serious underlying disease.

 

Clearing the Fog

Healthy mucus protects the body.

Too much mucus slows it down.

Chinese medicine has understood this balance for centuries.

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Er Chen Tang doesn't simply aim to remove phlegm—it helps restore the body's ability to manage fluids properly.

That is why we call it "Phlegm Buster."

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Whether the excess mucus affects the lungs, throat or digestive system, this foundational formula helps restore one of the body's most important housekeeping functions: keeping fluids moving, tissues clear and breathing comfortable.

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Key Takeaways

• Er Chen Tang is one of Chinese medicine's foundational formulas for clearing excessive phlegm and Dampness, first recorded during the Song Dynasty.

• At Chiron Medical it is called "Phlegm Buster" because it is traditionally prescribed for productive coughs, chest congestion, throat mucus and digestive disorders associated with excess phlegm.

• It forms the basis of many other respiratory formulas and is particularly suited to white or clear phlegm, distinguishing it from Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang, which is used for yellow, sticky inflammatory phlegm.

• Modern research supports actions on mucus regulation, airway inflammation, gastric motility and immune function.

• It should be prescribed by a qualified Chinese medicine practitioner after an individual assessment and used alongside appropriate medical care for persistent or severe respiratory illness.

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Clinical Insights

 

Er Chen Tang is one of Chinese medicine's foundational formulas for conditions where excessive mucus or poor fluid metabolism sits at the heart of the problem. While it is highly effective on its own, it is often combined with other formulas to address the underlying cause of chronic phlegm production or more complex conditions.

 

Chronic Digestive Weakness with Phlegm

When bloating, loose stools, poor appetite and chronic mucus occur together, Er Chen Tang is commonly combined with:

• Control Sugar (Shen Ling Bai Zhu San) to strengthen digestion, improve nutrient absorption and restore healthy fluid metabolism.

• Indigestion (Jian Pi Wan) when sluggish digestion, abdominal fullness and poor energy contribute to ongoing phlegm production.

These combinations help treat the reason phlegm keeps returning rather than simply clearing existing mucus.

 

Ménière's Disease and Chronic Vertigo

Chinese medicine has long recognised that disturbances of fluid balance can contribute to dizziness, vertigo, nausea and a sensation of pressure in the ears. When excessive fluid accumulation is thought to play a role, Er Chen Tang is often combined with:

• Tremors & Trembles (Tian Ma Gou Teng Wan) to help calm vertigo, dizziness and associated neurological symptoms.

• Clear the Way (Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang) where longstanding poor circulation is also contributing to chronic symptoms.

This combination aims to improve fluid regulation while supporting healthy circulation to the head and inner ear.

 

A Foundation Formula

Many practitioners consider Er Chen Tang a "building block" formula. It is frequently added to treatment plans whenever excessive mucus, chronic congestion or impaired fluid metabolism are present, allowing more targeted formulas to work more effectively.

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Rather than simply treating a cough or clearing mucus, Er Chen Tang addresses one of the body's fundamental housekeeping systems—how fluids are processed, transported and recycled. That is why it continues to appear in treatments for respiratory disease, digestive disorders, chronic sinus congestion, dizziness and many other conditions where phlegm is part of the clinical picture.